Dr. Brian Ray is the president of the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) and a leader in homeschooling research. The NHERI specializes in conducting and collecting research about homeschooling and publishes the research journal, the Home School Researcher. Dr. Ray is an author, speaker, and veteran homeschool father of eight children. He received his PhD in science education from Oregon State University and his master of science in zoology in zoology from Ohio University. In this episode of Refining Rhetoric, Robert and Dr. Ray discuss his research at the NHERI, including the history of home education, the reasons families homeschool, how COVID has impacted homeschooling, and the future of the homeschool movement.

Show notes: refiningrhetoric.com/brian-ray

Ever wonder what it’s like to be “canceled?” Andrew Crapuchettes is the visionary behind RedBalloon, an organization that attempts to solve the cancel culture movement in the American workplace by connecting like-minded employers with employees seeking jobs where their religious and personal beliefs are accepted. Andrew was also the CEO of Emsi, an international economic data firm with hundreds of employees worldwide. In this episode, Andrew discusses his successful career, advice for aspiring leaders, and being a Christian in the workplace.

Show notes: refiningrhetoric.com/andrew-crapuchettes

After practicing law in the private sector, Dan has gone on to serve on the Mecklenburg County Commission in North Carolina, the North Carolina House of Representatives, and the North Carolina Senate. Since 2019, Dan has represented North Carolina’s ninth district in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he is a member of the Homeland Security and Judiciary Committees. Currently, he is running for reelection as a representative. In this episode, Robert and Dan discuss Dan’s career in politics, bills he has sponsored, the House Freedom Caucus, and important issues our country faces like high taxation and gun control.

Show notes: refiningrhetoric.com/dan-bishop

E. Ray Moore is the founder and director of the Exodus Mandate Project, chairman of the Christian Education Initiative, chairman of the movement Public School Exit, and president of the board at Frontline Ministries. In addition to serving in pastoral ministry for over forty years, Ray is a proactive advocate for school choice, the author of two books (including Let My Children Go), and the executive producer of two films (including the award-winning 2011 film IndoctriNation). In this episode, Robert and Ray talk about educational freedom versus school choice and the future of education in the United States.

Show notes: refiningrhetoric.com/ray-moore

Dr. Neil Shenvi is the author of Why Believe? A Reasoned Approach to Christianity. After receiving his PhD in Theoretical Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, Neil has gone on to research nonadiabatic dynamics, electronic structure theory, and electron transfer while in positions at Yale and Duke. In addition to his scientific research, Neil speaks and writes about critical race theory and Christian apologetics. In 2015, he began homeschooling his family with Classical Conversations and now serves as a Tutor at his local Classical Conversations community. In this episode, Robert and Neil discuss homeschooling as a dad, critical race theory, and how to reconcile faith and science.

Show notes: refiningrhetoric.com/neil-shenvi

Randan Steinhauser is a homeschool mom and the founding partner of Steinhauser Strategies, which specializes in creating public relations campaigns, influencing public policy debates, and building innovative digital movements. Randan is an expert in her field, having worked in more than thirty states on issue advocacy, political campaigns, client media relations, coalition development, strategic communications, and government affairs. She homeschools her four children with Classical Conversations®, participating in a local community in Austin, Texas. In this episode of Refining Rhetoric, Robert interviews Randan about her career, homeschooling, and school choice.

Show notes: refiningrhetoric.com/randan-steinhauser

April Bortins is a homeschool mom and the wife of Robert Bortins. Together, April and Robert homeschool their three children with Classical Conversations®. Before teaching her own children, April worked as a public-school teacher and head coach for both track and field and cross country. In this special episode of Refining Rhetoric, Robert and April chat about her background, her homeschooling journey so far, and how she integrates faith into teaching her children. They also talk about how she felt joining the Bortins family and what daily life looks like in the Bortins household.

Show notes: refiningrhetoric.com/april-bortins

Andrew Pudewa is the founder of the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) and is a longtime partner and friend of Classical Conversations®. Speaking around the world, Andrew is known for presenting the skills of writing, teaching, and thinking with clarity and wit. Through IEW seminars and curriculum, he has helped students of all ages become better communicators and critical thinkers. Andrew graduated from the Talent Education Research Institute (known for the Suzuki method) in Matsumoto, Japan, and holds a Certificate of Child Brain Development from the Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In this episode of Refining Rhetoric, Robert interviews Andrew about his work at IEW, literacy in the United States, and how to write with excellence.  

Show notes: refiningrhetoric.com/andrew-pudewa

Lisa Bailey is the host of Everyday Educator, a long-running Classical Conversations podcast, and is also the Lead Curriculum Developer for the Global Curriculum team of our publishing company, Classical Conversations MultiMedia (CCMM). Since joining the Classical Conversations family in 2004 as a Challenge B Director, Lisa has graduated two daughters out of the Challenge program and has served in various roles within the company. In this episode, Robert and Lisa discuss her homeschooling journey from why she first chose to homeschool to the importance of committing long-term to the homeschool process.

Show notes: refiningrhetoric.com/lisa-bailey

Dr. Carol Swain is a distinguished political scientist, a former tenured professor at both Princeton University and Vanderbilt University, and late Vice Chair of President Donald Trump’s 1776 Commission. Dr. Swain is the author of several books, including the bestseller Black Eye for America: How Critical Race Theory Is Burning Down the House. In this episode, Robert and Dr. Swain delve into a controversial subject in modern Western culture: critical race theory. Together, they explore how Christians ought to respond. 

Show notes: refiningrhetoric.com/carol-swain